This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content here are presented solely by the author, and The Times of Israel assumes no responsibility for them. In case of abuse, report this post.

Religion is not a threat to the peace process

Blogger

Gedalyah Reback
Gedalyah Reback has a BA in Middle Eastern Studies from Rutgers University where he focused on Shi'ite Islam and Iraqi
… [More]Affairs. He also focuses on issues of personal status in Judaism, namely conversion. [Less]

More in this blog

I think it’s telling that despite the United States’ nuanced stance toward Israelis and Palestinians, which changes from administration to administration, it is still the arbitrator for both parties in whatever peace negotiations take place during those respective US governments. The reason no other Western country takes the lead, I think, is because European countries simply don’t attempt to understand the parties involved in any way. I believe it is related to how the majority ethnic population on the continent looks at both Jews and Muslims, and, consequently, at Israelis and Arabs.

Ehud Barak with Special Middle East Coordinator, Dennis Ross, in 1999.

Europe, whatever the reason might be, is a theater where religious practice is not popular, or at least increasingly unpopular. While certainly not giving the issue its due attention, I’ll simplify by saying religion is considered illogical, not provable and a negative wildcard in society. The result has been repressive legislation across the continent, as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom puts it:

“During the past few years there have been increasing restrictions on, and efforts to restrict, various forms of religious expression in Western Europe, particularly religious dress and visible symbols, ritual slaughter, religious circumcision, and the construction of mosques and minarets. These, along with limits on freedom of conscience and hate speech laws, are creating a growing atmosphere of intimidation against certain forms of religious activity in Western Europe. These restrictions also seriously limit social integration and educational and employment opportunities for the individuals affected.”

This isn’t to say American arbiters aren’t also guilty of ignoring the relevance of religion in the conflict. They’ve repeatedly steered negotiations away from the religious ramifications of holy sites in Judaism and Islam, to the detriment of educated discussion of the sites.

The Temple Mount is essential to modern archaeology, but its use for Jewish and Muslim ritual is more important. (Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem’s Old City next to the Temple Mount. Photo Credit: Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

If the neutral arbiter entertains the possibility of not merely a symbolic joint administration of the site, but an actual split of sovereignty, secular observers would be impressed by the nuances of religious law inherent to Judaism and Islam, to Halachah and Sharia.

It is not impossible to bring religious Jews and religious Muslims to the table to talk about the Temple Mount, the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus.

A workable solution would be years in the making, but we all know how long these processes take. The Clinton Parameters suggested a division was possible. I’d argue they were on the right track, though their formulas were political.

If a workable solution is still conceivable 20 years after the Oslo Accords with today’s negotiations, then patience is justifiable on this specific aspect of the conflict that hasn’t been given its rightful attention. Whether because arbiters want to rush negotiations toward a premature conclusion or an intransigence toward understanding religion in general, unjustified presumptions that religion and religious law are uncompromising are pushing two parties into a pact which may not survive.

It would activate a self-fulfilling prophecy of religiously fueled war involving both Jews and Muslims who would lose out on their spiritual prosperity.

I do not trust a European state, even a collective like the European Union, to have the leadership qualified to understand what I am asserting. Ignoring religious parties to the conflict is to the detriment of a peace process’s potential and to the security of all involved. It is a mistake the United States does not have to make and that I trust they wouldn’t risk. If a religious solution to these issues were to come about, those population groups would enforce an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, between Jews and Muslims.

To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.

By signing up, you agree to our
terms
You hereby accept The Times of Israel Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and you agree to receive the latest news & offers from The Times of Israel and its partners or ad sponsors.